American teams just miss out on playoffs in Sweden

(STEVENS POINT, Wis.) – The finals of the Curling World Cup in Jonkoping, Sweden, are set but, unfortunately will not include any American teams as the double round robin came to a close today at the Jonkoping Curling Club.

All three U.S. teams, however, closed out their time in Sweden on winning notes to collect additional prize money. Cory Christensen and the U.S. ladies finished second in Group B with a 3-3 record after defeating Japan via shootout, 8-7. Christensen (Duluth, Minn.) and teammates Vicky Persinger (Fairbanks, Alaska), Jenna Martin (Wauwatosa, Wis.) and Madison Bear (Minneapolis, Minn.) tied the game in the eighth end and then sealed the win with a better shootout than Tori Koana’s crew. The women’s final on Sunday will feature Sweden and Korea.

Mark Fenner and the U.S. men lost its morning match to Japan but bounced back to defeat Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller, 10-3, tonight to finish with a 2-4 record in Group A. Fenner (Bemidji, Minn.) and his team of Tom Howell (Milwaukee, Wis.), Korey Dropkin (Duluth, Minn.) and Alex Fenson (Bemidji, Minn.) shot 92 percent to earn the lopsided win over the Swiss. The men’s gold-medal match will feature Canada and Sweden.

In mixed doubles, the American duo of Becca Hamilton and Matt Hamilton had the best showing for the U.S. contingent as they finished with a 4-2 record after ending their journey with a 7-4 victory over China. The mixed doubles final tomorrow will feature Canada and Norway. Both countries have already qualified teams to the Grand Final in Beijing this May after Canada won the first leg and Norway the second stage in Omaha.

All of the championship finals can be watched on the Olympic Channel and/or NBCSN.